Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4,137, Alexander Gordon, Conn. Privateer

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn. Privateer
Gordon, Alexander
P 4,137
CONTENTS

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th D 1832
State of Connecticut } Probate office Guilford } ss Branford - in - District } District
On this 10 th Day of Apr l 1833 - personally appeared in Open Court before the Probate Court of Guilford for the Probate District of Guilford now sitting Alexander Gordon a Resident of Branford in the County of New Haven State of Connecticut aged Eighty Nine Years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath Make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th D 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. — in October 1776 I enlisted on Board the Privateer Revenge Command- ed by Capt Post Conklin was our first Lieutenant and Jasper Griffin our Second Lieutenant King our Sailing Master Rogers our Surgeon we Sailed on a Cruise from New London in October 1776 went to sea with Seventy Men on Board all told on our Cruise we fell in with an English Brig she was under

Convoy of the Jamaica Fleet bound to England she was Loaded with Refined Sugar and Rum we had no Engagement with the Brig when we took her we put a Prize Master and a Number of Men on board of her with orders for a Port in the United States I done Duty on Board the said privateer Revenge as a Marine for More than six Months before I was Discharged The 8 th of May 1777 I enlisted and done duty as a Corporal for one Month in a Company of Militia Commanded by Abraham Foot a Capt Samuel Baldwin Lieut Lorington Harrison Ensign Andrew Ward our Colonel as per pay Roll enclosed. — our tour of Duty was done in Bradford and East Haven in June 1777 I enlisted again for three Months in James Barker's Company our Capt was James Barker I do not Recollect the Name of our Lieut our Ensign was Allen Smith our Company was ordered on Guard Duty and Stationed at East Haven and Bradford and Edward Russell was our Colonel and had Command of the Regiment we had an Engagement with the Enemy when they Landed at a place called South end East Haven

According to the best of My Recollection I served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades viz for Six Months on Board the Privateer Revenge as a Marin for one Month in Capt Abraham Foot Company 4 Mos as a Corporal and Three Months in Capt James Barker Company as a private and for such services I claim a Pension
I was born Wallingford County of the then State of Connecticut I am now Eighty Nine Years old I have no Record of My age Birth
I was living in Branford when I was called into service and have lived in Branford ever since
I was called into service by Enlistment
I never received any written Discharge
I have no written Documents except Capt Abraham Foot pay Roll herewith enclosed
I request Name some Men that are my Neighbors namely Johnson Samuel Good James Goodrich who can testify as to My truth and Kinship. - and I hereby relinquish every other claim to any pension or annuity
Alexander T Gordon
Sworn and subscribed the mark day and year aforesaid before me Reuben Elliott Judge

we Timothy P. Gillett a Clergyman Residing in Mansford County of New Haven State of Connecticut and Benjamin R. Fowler Residing in said Mansford hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander Gordon who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be eighty five years of age that he is respected and beloved in the Neighborhood where he Resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Reuben Elliott Judge
Timothy P. Gillett Benjamin R. Fowler
And the Court hereby declare their opinion after the Investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogation prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states — And the Court further Certifies that Tim o P. Gillett who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in Mansford & that Benjamin R. Fowler who has also signed the same is a resident in Mansford and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Reuben Elliott Judge

I George Griswold Clerk of the Court of Probate for Guilford District do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Alexander Gordon for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this

The Deposition of Jared Grannis now 76 years old is as follows viz in the Autumn of 1776 I Shift on Board the privateer Revenge Part was our Commander a Capt Conklin our 1 st Lieutenant Jasper Griffin our 2 d Lieutenant we went to sea from New London and about Three Weeks after we sailed we fell in with an English Brig under Convoy from Jamaica bound to England and took her and I was put into her with a Prize Master and others and I further depose and that Alexander Gordon the within named applicant for a pension Shift on board of the said privateer Revenge and done Duty with me on Board said Revenge and was on board of the said Revenge when I was put on Board the Prize we took. — The Prize we took was loaded with Refined Sugar & Rum I have always been acquainted with Alexander Gordon and he is reported to be a Man of truth and veracity it is my opinion that Mr Gordons application and Declaration for a pension is all of it entitled to credit and I believe him to be Eighty Nine years old in Jared Grannis Capt

New Haven County ss Branford April 10 1833 Personally appeared Jared Granis a credible witness and made solemn oath to the truth of the within and foregoing Deposition by him signed with his mark Before me Reuben Elliott Judge

The Deposition of John Murno now 73 years old is as follows in 1777 I was a private in a Company of Militia Commanded by James Barker Capt and done Duty in Branford and East Haven and Edward Russell was our Colonel was in an Engagement with the Enemy when they landed at South End, East Haven. and I well Recollect that Alexander Gordon the within applicant for a pension belonged to the same Company I did and at the same time I did and according to the best of My Recollection he done Duty for three Months at that time as a private the said Alexander Gordon has ever since that time lived a neigh- bor to Me and he is now and always has been a Man Reported good for truth and Veracity as any other Man and I believe his Declaration herewith annexed to obtain a pension ought to be entitled to full Credit and I believe him to be Eighty Nine years old further the Deponant saith not John Murno
New Haven County ss Branford Apr 10 1833 Personally appeared John Murno a credible witness and made solemn Oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed before me Reuben Elliott Judge

The Application of Alexander Gordon of Branford C o for a Pension under the Law of 1832 Taken before Reuben Elliott Judge of Probate for Guilford District
25054
Reputed
Services as a Manner
not allowed, being
a Pensioner
only 4 months
Military service
obtained
See letter to George
Griswold
Guilford Conn.
June 14. 1833
Mr Timothy O'Gill a Clergyman residing in Branford County of New Haven and Connecticut A Parish residing in said Branford County early that he was acquainted with Alexander Gordon who has resided and upon the above declaration that he believes him to be eighty five years of age that he is right and believed in the neighborhood where he now resides to have been of service of the Revolution and that he came in that manner

We Timothy O'Gill a Clergyman residing in Branford County of New Haven and Benjamin R Towne residing in said Branford hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Alexander Gordon who has submitted and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be Eighty five years of age that he is respected and believed in the Neighborhood where he now resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Rev. Gordon
25054
Rejected
Services as a Minister not allowed, being
a Pioneer -
only 4 months
Military service claimed -
See letter to Govt
Griswold -
Guilford Conn.
June 14. 1833
The Application of Alexander Gordon of Branford Ct for a Pension under the Act of 1832 taken before Andrew Elliott Judge of Probate for Guilford District

mmh can
February 18, 1934
Charlotte L. Cutler 32 Park St., Norwich, Conn.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 4137 it appears that Alexander Gordon was born in Wallingford, New Haven County, Connecticut, date not stated.
While a resident of Branford, New Haven County, Connecticut and aged eighty-nine years, he applied for pension April 10, 1833 and stated that while living in said Branford he enlisted in October 1773 and served as a mariner for six months on board the Privateer "Revenge", Captain Post.
Also that he enlisted May 8, 1777 and served one month as a Corporal in Captain Abraham Foot's Company, Colonel Andrew Ward's Connecticut Regiment, and in June 1777 he enlisted and served three months as a private in Captain James Barker's Company, Colonel Edward Russell's Connecticut Regiment and was in an engagement

at South End, East Haven.
His claim was not allowed as he did not serve six months in a military capacity as required by the pension laws. He died about 1838.
His son Alexander was living in 1852 aged seventy-two years. There is no further family data on file.
The above noted is the only soldier named Alexander Gordon of Connecticut found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau, and it is not stated that he was in any other service during the Revolution.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Alexander Gordon Connecticut Act 7. June 1832
Rejected Sefetter { Geo Griswold Esq June 1833 }
Did not find the letters in book.
4/37

No. 20 Alexander Gordon
M c Waver. & Gaffu, Atty's
Present-
Special

AFFIDAVIT AND POWER OF ATTORNEY.
STATE OF Connecticut, } ss. COUNTY OF New Haven. }
Be it remembered, That, on this 24th day of November, A. D. 1852, I, Alexander Gordon, do make known and declare that I am the son and heir-at-law to Alexander Gordon, deceased, who was the wife of a Revolutionary soldier, who served some years, under the command of Connecticut and that he and his said wife were married about the month of A.D. that he died about the month of year 1838, and that his said wife also died about the month of A.D. and that a pension of dollars a year was drawn by said on account of said services, and so continued until the year A. D. 18, since which time nothing has been received by either, or the heirs of either of said parties. No pension was ever drawn by said soldier, or his heirs, on account of said services.
And that claimant is now 72 years of age; and it is understood and believed that there are arrearages of Pension, and other claims due for said services: Now, THEREFORE, the true intent of all this is to qualify and irrevocably appoint and empower ALFRED J. WORKS, of New Haven City and County, State of Connecticut,
as my Attorney, with power of substitution, to investigate, substantiate, demand, and receive the avails of, said claim or claims, and to say and do all things relative thereto, as amply as I might do: hereby ratifying every thing said or done by my said Attorney, or his substitute, in virtue hereof; ALSO, revoking all Powers of Attorney, or other authority previously given for any such purposes.
Attest, Benjamin L. Carter James H. Conklin.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, day and date first above named.
Alexander Gordon
Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me, the day and year first above indicated.
Wm Goodwin
Notary Public.

32 Park Street Norwich, Conn.
To the Pension Bureau. Washington - D. C.
Can you give me the history of the following person?
A Pay Roll of Capt. Abraham Frost's Company of Militia in Col. Andrew Ward's Regiment.
Alexander Gordon - Corporal. Time of engagement - May 8 - 1777. Time of discharge - June 6 - 1777.
("From Connecticut soldiers who fought in the Revolution.")
Connecticut in Revolution. Pg 621. by Henry P. Johnston.
Was he the same as Alex Gordon in Hobart's Militia - 1776 (3 days at New London, Conn.)?
I am anxious to obtain his pension history if possible - and

thought maybe it might be found at the Bureau of Revenue provided he had a pension.
Hopeing to hear from you -
Sincerely -
Sincerely yours -
(Miss) Charlotte L. Cutter.
Friday.
Jan. 18 - 1924.

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
1924 - Feb. 18 - Hist: to Miss Char. Della L. Cutler. MMH/F
4137
P. O.
Alexander Gordon
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges Printed list of 1857 gives:
"He did not serve in a
Re-enlisted: Military Capacity."
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18